The United States is experiencing its widest-spread drought in 56 years, according to a release by the nation's meteorological agency Monday.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that some 55 percent of the contiguous United States, particularly in the Midwest, suffered from drought last month, according to the Palmer Drought Index, a formula that determines dryness based on temperature and rainfall data.

The percentage is the largest since 1956, when drought spanned 58% of the country.

This is the "14th warmest and tenth driest June on record," the report read.

"Topsoil has dried out and crops, pastures and rangeland have deteriorated at a rate rarely seen in the last 18 years."

Iran drought part of 'soft war' by West: VPTehran (AFP) July 16, 2012 The drought in southern Iran is part of a "soft war" launched against the Islamic republic by the West, the Fars news agency quoted an Iranian vice president as saying on Monday.
"I am suspicious about the drought in the southern part of the country," Hassan Mousavi, who also heads Iran's cultural heritage and tourism organisation, said at a ceremony to introdue the nation's new chief of met ... read more

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